There are usually no symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have symptoms of a stroke or a
transient ischemic attack
(TIA or mini-stroke). This is a warning sign that you may have carotid artery stenosis. Symptoms may include:

Blindness, blurry or dim vision

Weakness, numbness, or tingling of the face, arm, leg, or one side of the body

Difficulty speaking or understanding words

Lightheadedness, unsteadiness of gait, or falling

Trouble with balance or coordination

Loss of consciousness

Nausea or vomiting

Sudden confusion or loss of memory

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.

Images may be needed of your internal structures. This can be done with:

The goal of treatment is to prevent carotid artery stenosis from causing inadequate blood flow to the brain or causing a stroke. Treatment will depend on:

The severity of your condition

Your symptoms

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include:

Medication and Lifestyle Changes

If there are no symptoms and if plaque build-up is not severe, medications like aspirin may be given to help prevent a stroke from occurring. Lifestyle changes are also an important part of treatment. Some actions you can take to reduce your risk of stroke include:

If you have high cholesterol, work with your doctor to lower the levels.

If you have high blood pressure, work to get it under control.

Surgery

Surgery may be needed if the arteries have severe plaque build-up. One kind of surgery is called
carotid endarterectomy
. This involves opening the artery and cleaning the plaque from it. Another surgery that may be done is carotid angioplasty and stenting. In this surgery, a balloon is inserted into the artery to widen it. Then a metal mesh, called a stent, is inserted to keep the artery open so that blood can flow freely.

Prevention

To help reduce your chance of getting carotid artery stenosis, you will need to decrease the risk factors that you can control. For example, you can reduce your cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight. Here are some steps to decrease these risk factors:

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care
provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a
substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the
advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to
starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.